Innate host defense molecules as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in chronic airway inflammation

COPD, asthma, and cystic fibrosis (CF) together affect a large number of individuals and no curative treatments are available. These diseases have in common that they start at the airway mucosal surfaces and inflammatory bouts (exacerbations) are to a large extent triggered by infections. In this project, we study innate host defense, with a focus on roles for chemokines and innate antibiotics during airway inflammation. These molecules are important both in the context of the prolonged and dysregulated inflammation as well as during the exacerbations seen COPD, asthma, and CF.

The project applies experimental models reflecting mucosal inflammation as well as investigation of clinical samples. The production of antibacterial chemokines by inflamed epithelial cells demonstrates an important aspect of innate immunity. It is therefore important to increase the knowledge concerning mechanisms regulating their expression in airway epithelial cells. In addition, antibacterial chemokines can serve as both biomarkers and templates to develop new treatment strategies against inflammatory bouts of COPD, asthma, and CF.